"I asked it to stop. It was going to attack Justin because Lockhart made it mad." Harry said, now aware how everyone was looking at him. "Did I do something wrong?"
"Harry… normal wizards can't talk to snakes." Padma chimed in from beside Hermione.
"Ooh…" Harry said, feeling his stomach drop from under him.
Susan and Hannah were on either side of Justin, making sure he was okay, and everyone else was looking at him, mixtures of fear and anger on most of their faces.
Harry ran.
Harry ran up the moving staircase.
Harry ran past the Sphinx Club room.
Harry ran past the portrait entrance to the Ravenclaw house.
Harry ran past everyone in the common room.
Harry ran past the statue of Rowena Ravenclaw.
Harry stopped in his bed, pulling the covers over him, and shutting out all light in the world.
Then, Harry cried.
Harry wasn't sure how long he stayed under the covers. He heard his roommates come and go a few times, and he was vaguely aware that he probably should have attempted to go to class at least once, but he didn't care. His life was over.
Harry had thought that after he left the Dursleys that his troubles would be over, that his friends and family would never leave him. How stupid he was to think that. No, he was Harry Potter, the boy who lost his parents. The boy who no one could ever love. The boy who hurt everyone he interacted with. The freak, the misfit, the unwanted.
"Harry?" a voice came through. It was small, and timid. Afraid of him, just like everyone else.
"Go away." Harry said, his voice rough in his throat. How long had it been since he spoke? Since he drank anything?
"No, I don't think I will." The voice said, louder, more sure.
"Go away." Harry repeated, although he barely managed to get it out.
"We're worried about you, you know? Hermione's torn to pieces, and it's all Padma can do to try to hold her together." The voice said. It had to be Luna.
"Why do they care? They're scared of me, just like everyone is." Harry said.
"I'm not scared of you Harry. Neither are Hermione, Padma, Susan, Hannah, Daphne, Tracey, Lavender, Parvati, or Neville." Luna said, and Harry could feel her sit on his bed.
"You didn't see the looks on their faces… I did. I hadn't seen Hermione that scared since we found Fluffy last year." Harry said, sinking deeper into his covers.
"Oh, yes she was scared. But not of you. She was terrified for you. People already believed you were the Heir of Slytherin, and now you displayed that you have one of his signature abilities. He could also talk to snakes like you and I can." Luna said.
"Thanks for trying to make me feel better Luna, but you don't have to lie about being able to talk to snakes." Harry said, the effect making him feel worse.
"Oh, but I can talk to snakes, although they're a bit hard to understand. The one on the platform called you a sneaker. I don't know why though, you weren't very sneaky." Luna said quizzatively.
"It called me a speaker… wait… you really can talk to snakes?" Harry asked, shooting up. The light from the window blinding him for a moment as he readjusted to the world.
"I talk to all kinds of animals. Snakes are hard for me to understand though, like they're talking through water." Luna said, before holding her nose. "You're quite smelly Harry. Please go shower and then meet us in the common room. You're going to apologize to Hermione and Padma, then we're all going to go eat some food in the great hall." Luna said, grabbing his shirt with one hand and trying to throw him from the bed.
"I… I guess you're right. Thanks Luna." Harry said, getting up and moving over to his trunk.
"Of course I'm right. I'm Luna. Now, off you go stinky!" Luna said, before getting up and making her way down the stairs.
Harry showered and changed clothes, before gathering his courage and stepping down the stairs. Waiting at the bottom were Hermione, Padma, and Luna.
"Hey…" Harry started, trying to examine his friend's features. Hermione's eyes and nose were red, and her cheeks were puffy. Padma had a handful of tissues in her hand.
"H-hey…" Hermione squeaked out pitifully. She tried to look up at him, but could only make it half-way.
"I'm sor–" was all Harry got out before Hermione crushed him in a powerful hug.
"Don't ever do that again Harry! Oh I was so worried, you ran before I could work anything out and then I got here and you were in the boys dorms where we can't go up and didn't come back down and you missed classes and meals and your dormmates hadn't seen you and.." Hermione sputtered as she bawled into his chest holding him tighter.
"See, told you." Luna said.
"I'm sorry Hermione. I'm sorry to you too Padma. And thanks Luna. I was just, so scared. Everyone was looking at me like I was the monster that's been petrifying people." Harry said, as something clicked. "Wait a minute… I could hear something that night we found Ms. Norris, and the only other person was Luna, who couldn't make out what it was saying…. I can talk to snakes, and Luna can't quite figure out what they say…"
"So the monster that's been petrifying people is some kind of snake!" Padma finished looking shocked. "Of course it is! It's a monster made by Salazar Slytherin from his Chamber, of COURSE it's a snake, what else could it be?"
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